FEATURE
integration between environments and
allow developers to use resources in your
hybrid cloud without extensive retooling.
Establish relationships with cloud
providers even if your need for them isn’t
immediate (which will save you time
down the road).
Decision 4: Deciding which apps
and services run on which cloud
Decisions on where to place certain
workloads with certain CSPs will depend
on things like price, elasticity, security
and compliance requirements, and unique
application needs. When it comes to
public cloud, there are a handful of widely-
used options that offer a compelling range
of infrastructure and service choices.
The key here is to select public clouds that
work optimally with your chosen cloud
operating environment and complement
your app environment. (As an example,
Microsoft Azure might make more sense
for enterprises invested in Microsoft than
enterprises running Linux). Consider also
the levels of customisation, service and
support that CSPs provide.
Decision 5: Making a shortlist of
SaaS providers
This decision is lower priority than data
centre modernisation and selection of
CSPs and public clouds, but it’s worth
thinking through SaaS considerations at
this point. Standardise the set of SaaS
THE KEY HERE
IS TO SELECT
PUBLIC CLOUDS
THAT WORK
OPTIMALLY WITH
YOUR CHOSEN
CLOUD OPERATING
ENVIRONMENT
AND COMPLEMENT
YOUR APP
ENVIRONMENT.
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Issue 12
providers you’ll use as best you can –
and try to avoid having similar services
from multiple providers. A good example
is looking at all the internal messaging
services you’re utilising – do you really
need Slack, Jabber and Jive?
Think about the possibility of outsourcing
some apps you’re running on-prem today
to SaaS providers to free up staff and
infrastructure. Also, don’t forget about
the data being stored by SaaS providers
and make sure that regulatory and data
protection requirements are being met.
JON LUCAS, CO-DIRECTOR, HYVE
MANAGED HOSTING
Although some businesses will go all-in
with either public or private cloud, this
isn’t a model that works for everyone.
Different workloads and applications
are suitable for different types of cloud.
Hybrid cloud is a great answer to this.
But it is important for every organisation
to first understand the difference
between hybrid and multi-cloud before
dipping their toe in, because getting one
confused for the other could lead to a
disappointing outcome.
Both hybrid and multi-cloud involve using
a mixture of public and private cloud to
maximise efficiency, cost and scalability
– the differentiator is in how they are
integrated and managed. Multi-cloud
consists of a series of different clouds
that are centrally managed in a single
architecture. These cloud environments
can be either public cloud, private cloud
or a mixture of both and are provided by
a range of suppliers and therefore have
to be managed internally, adding to the
responsibilities of the IT team. Operating
in a multi-cloud environment results in
different configurations, settings, pricing
plans and multiple invoices – making
management and budgeting more
complex and time consuming.
In comparison, hybrid cloud is a single
entity and consists of a combination of
on-premises, private cloud and public
cloud, working together in tandem. This
is provided by one supplier and means
businesses are operating within a single
cloud infrastructure. As with multi-
IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR EVERY
ORGANISATION
TO FIRST
UNDERSTAND
THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN HYBRID
AND MULTI-CLOUD
BEFORE DIPPING
THEIR TOE IN.
cloud, the most appropriate cloud can be
used for different workloads and data.
Having all of the operations within the
same infrastructure unifies IT and it can
therefore be managed more effectively.
Organisations will find that hybrid cloud
provides the best of both worlds for
businesses and working with a managed
cloud provider means that the correct
workloads will always be in the most
suitable environment. Public cloud will
be utilised for intensive workloads and is
ideal for running test and development
servers, for example, and for sensitive
data, the private cloud will be used.
Having this all centrally managed by an
experienced managed cloud provider will
mean businesses can fully embrace the
hybrid cloud model – avoiding the siloed
approach of multi-clouds. ◊
Jon Lucas, Co-Director, Hyve
Managed Hosting
www.intelligentdatacentres.com